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City centre redevelopment

The document adds: "The serviced apartments would provide self-contained bedroom, shower/WC and living space with flexible short-term lengths of letting for public and professional people.

"The accommodation would be managed off-site with all check-in and check-out, servicing of rooms, laundry, cleaning of rooms and communal areas.

"The proposed building is a modern contemporary block which had been designed to stand out and help lift the character of the immediate shopping precinct, setting the standard for new development that is helping shape Coventry City Centre."

"A plan to demolish and replace a modest Victorian building with a modern block of little or no architectural value is clearly a controversial one," the latest newsletter from the Coventry Society said.

"The conundrum arises with a recent planning application to demolish the Ristorante Etna in Hertford Street.

"The building appears to have lost an upper storey, perhaps in the last war, so what is left is something of a mish-mash; the rear facing Methodist Hall is unsightly and needs attention.

"However the building planned has no architectural merit and appears to be a poor fit with neighbouring properties.

"However the developers know that this is a shopping street and to ensure that they get planning permission they have included a small shop unit downstairs facing Hertford Street. However the shop unit is tiny and is unlikely to attract a retailer, particularly as it can't be served from the rear because of the flats.

"Etna restaurant will be very familiar to many Coventry people and will hold a small, warm place in their hearts.

"It's part of Coventry's collective history. Is this important enough to argue for its retention?"

The listing for Ristorante Etna on the Holt Commercial website

Up for sale

The listing states the restaurant can handle around 100 diners and adds: "The property is situated in the busy pedestrianised trading location of Hertford Street in Coventry City Centre , being situated with other restaurant users and national retailers in close proximity.

"The property comprises restaurant premises with ground and first floor seating areas, having kitchen facilities and stores to the rear of the property. The property benefits from WC accommodation on both ground and first floors.

"In its current layout, the existing restaurant can provide approximately 100 covers. The property also benefits from a former take-away area which has now been converted to provide additional seating during busy times."

Recent planning applications show the upper floor of the restaurant was given permission to be turned into eight flats with shared facilities in April 2017.